Last-Minute Holiday Entertaining Tips

Heloise gives you some helpful hints and more!

A longtime green advocate, Heloise has been answering house-care questions for 30-plus years.

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For decorating, think color! You can go the traditional route and use red and green, or pick other color schemes -- like all gold and silver, all white with a splash of red or silver, etc. You can "do" the whole house or focus on one or two areas. The kitchen really is the center of activity this time of year, so get creative! Hang last year's cards by pretty ribbon or start a new string for this year. Pull out your holiday serving pieces and place some ornaments in large wine or brandy glasses. Fill a clear bowl with candy canes and candy or colored Christmas tree balls. You can decorate your potted plants (large and small) with ribbon, bows and even candy canes. I put small twinkle lights on a large (seven-foot-tall) schefflera plant, add several red bows and wrap the pot with silver foil. Don't forget the refrigerator! A friend of mine "wraps" hers with holiday paper and adds a big bow, and it's fabulous! Treat yourself even if you are not having people over. Use your good wineglasses for orange juice or soda. Tie the stem with some ribbon or gold/silver pipe cleaners to give you a holiday lift. Even if you have only a little time, you can place pretty holiday things around the house in less than 20 minutes. Trust me, it works!

If you use candles, please take note. The wicks should be trimmed to 1/4 inch before burning. This prevents the soot that can stain your walls and ceilings. If the flame is too high, then the wick is too long. Natch, don't leave a candle burning in a room when no one is there! Keep out of drafts and away from curtains, etc. You think it will never happen to you, but the number of fires started by a decorative or scented candle is astonishing. Don't become a statistic.

If you have the time to bake holiday goodies, good for you! If you don't and want your home to have that holiday smell -- cheat! I put a large pot of water on the stove and add some cinnamon or allspice, lemon or orange rinds and sometimes ginger and simmer on low heat all day long. (DO NOT leave the house with this on the stove and don't let it boil dry -- keep adding water as the day goes on.) The house smells wonderful -- and as a bonus this helps add moisture to the dry air that we usually have in our homes this time of year.

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